Swati Dandekar Mulls Run for Congress in Iowa, Says Report

Swathi dandekar

Swathi dandekar

Former Indian American Iowa state House and Senate member Swati Dandekar is mulling a run for the U.S. Congress, according to a report by the Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A Web site at http://swatidandekarforiowa.com) — which is not authorized by Dandekar — is the latest hint she could join the race for an open U.S. House seat in Iowa’s 1st District.
“Is coming soon” is the only statement on the Web site. Dandekar could not be reached for comment, the Gazette said.
Charlie Kress of Marion, Iowa, a friend and treasurer of her state legislature campaigns, told the newspaper, “She hasn’t decided, but a lot of people are pushing on it.”
Kress predicted those encouraging Dandekar to seek the Democratic nomination would form an exploratory committee.
Former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge confirmed there’s interest in seeing her run. “She’s certainly proven in the past to be a good campaigner and a better fundraiser than many,” Judge said. “She has the capacity to put a campaign together and it would be great to have her in the race.”
The 1st District seat is open because Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, Iowa, is running for the U.S. Senate seat that will open up with the retirement of Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.
State Rep. Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, Iowa, is the only Democrat who has announced for Congress, but other candidates are expected to announce soon, observers said. Republicans in the race include businessmen Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids and Rod Blum of Dubuque.
Dandekar, 62, served in the Iowa House from 2002-08, when she was elected to the Iowa Senate. She resigned in 2011 to accept Gov. Terry Branstad’s appointment to the Iowa Utilities Board. She and her husband, Arvind, president of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Fastek International, have two children.
Kress told the Gazette he believes Dandekar probably won’t announce her candidacy until late summer or fall.
The 20-county 1st District runs from Marshalltown north to Minnesota and east to the Mississippi River. It includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Dubuque.

Read more at http://www.indiawest.com